Chapter 168: The Power of the French Cavalry

Namur was the first battle for the French army. Its strategic location was crucial, as it was only a short distance from Brussels, the capital of the Netherlands. If the French could capture Namur, they could swiftly advance north and attack the Dutch capital.

Just as they had captured the Duke of Enghien, their next objective was to capture Bragge alive.

As the French cavalry swiftly moved north, attempting to catch the Dutch off guard with a blitzkrieg, the Dutch were also planning to fortify their defenses around Namur. Their strategy was clear and simple: rely on defensive fortifications to withstand the first wave of French attacks, delay the French army, and buy time until the British could land troops in the northern ports of the Netherlands. With this combined force, they could launch a counterattack.

But would the French army give them that opportunity?

...

"Prepare to launch the attack. Let the Netherlands know our strength, and let them understand how mistaken they are in resisting us," Murat said with a hint of determination on his face as he stared at the Dutch defensive positions before him.

After a day and night of marching, his cavalry had arrived. Now, Murat was about to launch his attack on the Dutch.

Ahead of Namur, the French 1st Cavalry Division was fully prepared for battle. With over ten thousand cavalry divided into two brigades—6,000 in the 1st Brigade and 4,000 in the 2nd Brigade—they prepared to launch a frontal assault. Meanwhile, the 3rd Brigade was flanking from the rear, aiming to attack the Dutch artillery support positions.

The French army was well-prepared for this battle. Once the attack began, the Dutch would face the fierce firepower of the elite French cavalry. Although the Dutch troops before them had received training and support from the British, trying to confront the elite French cavalry was tantamount to suicide.

"Come on, let these ignorant Dutch know our strength," General Murat said with a grim smile. He believed that Namur would soon become a field of carnage. These Dutch would use their blood to stain this land red.

At this moment, the French cavalry was fully prepared. The 1st and 2nd Cavalry Brigades were confronting the Dutch army head-on, while the 3rd Cavalry Brigade had already begun its flanking maneuver, silently approaching the battlefield. Once the Dutch main force was engaged, they would launch an attack from the flanks and rear, trapping the entire Dutch army of fifty thousand soldiers.

After all, the Netherlands was just a small country. Once these fifty thousand troops were eliminated, the Netherlands would be finished. The remaining miscellaneous police forces were even less of a concern.

"Attack! Brothers, show the Dutch the might of the French army!" Murat drew his command sword and shouted loudly.

"Charge!" The French cavalry, filled with fighting spirit, shouted slogans as they charged towards the Dutch defensive positions.

In this wave of attack, the French cavalry committed a full six thousand men. They hoped that this assault would break the Dutch defensive line.

It had to be admitted, the cavalry charge was indeed magnificent. With their large numbers, they created the impression of an unstoppable force, especially when combined with their powerful warhorses.

The thunderous sound of hooves converged like distant thunder. The French cavalry's attack surged towards the Dutch positions like a black tide.

Seeing the impressive display of his cavalry, Murat nodded in satisfaction. To him, this was undoubtedly a first-rate army. In terms of cavalry alone, his Central Cavalry Division could rank among the best in the world.

"These are my soldiers of France! Let's see how the Dutch can withstand them," Murat said with a smile on his face.

"Yes, General! With six thousand cavalry attacking together, we can surely break through the Dutch positions. Their soldiers are poorly trained, and their fighting spirit is weak. Such an army doesn't deserve to be called an army. Once we breach their defenses, it will be time to slaughter them," another French officer said confidently.

In his view, although the Dutch had received substantial weapons assistance from the British, their advantage lay in speed. Once they quickly crossed this distance and approached the enemy, the Dutch would be unable to fully utilize their firepower advantage. Furthermore, he doubted that these poorly trained Dutch troops could effectively use the artillery.

But the French army was different. The French cavalry could freely wield their sabers and mercilessly cut down the Dutch infantry. Victory seemed within reach.

It had been almost two months since the signing of the Franco-Austrian-Italian Peace Treaty, yet the clause transferring the Netherlands to French rule had not been realized. However, if they could defeat the Dutch army this time, the Dutch government would likely have to acknowledge French rule over the Netherlands.

...

At the Dutch positions in Namur, to boost morale, the Dutch Chief Executive Bragge personally arrived on the battlefield.

This battle was crucial for him, and he had placed everything on the line, allowing no room for error.

"Is our artillery ready?" Bragge asked the Dutch army commander guarding the position, in order to inspire his troops.

"Report, Chief Executive Bragge, everything is ready. This time, the British have assisted us with 30 new heavy cannons. With them, we will no longer fear the French army," bravely declared the Dutch lieutenant general, visibly bolstered by the equipment provided by the British.

It was important to note that although the fifty thousand Dutch troops assembled by Bragge seemed ostensibly Dutch, at least forty thousand were organized with the help of the British, either by contributing money, weapons, or personnel. Therefore, while the troops appeared Dutch on the surface, they were practically indistinguishable from British soldiers.

"Boom! Boom!" Suddenly, in the midst of Bragge's conversation with his generals, distant thunderous sounds echoed across the battlefield.

"Is it thunder?" Bragge asked, puzzled.

"No... it's not. The French are attacking," said a Dutch general, alarmed.

"The French attacking? So soon?" Bragge exclaimed.

"It must be the French cavalry. Chief Executive, we must get inside the defensive fortifications!" said the Dutch general, grabbing Bragge's hand and pulling him towards the defensive works.

Inside the fortifications, Bragge peered through his spyglass at the distant French cavalry attack. The assault was indeed formidable. Watching it, he felt a shiver down his spine. This was the first time he had seen such a fierce military force.

"General, can we hold off their attack?" Bragge asked nervously.

"Chief Executive, rest assured. We have sufficient defensive fortifications here at Namur, combined with a firepower network of cannons and muskets, which will surely repel the French assault," the commander beside Bragge replied confidently. His method had been proven effective in dealing with cavalry.

"Artillery, open fire!" Bragge ordered. He intended to scatter the French formations with artillery fire. These British 15-pound cannons had tremendous power, and he had personally witnessed their devastating effect, easily reducing men to powder.

However, he forgot that French cavalry was not like any other force. The French had fought in Italy and claimed to have defeated the famed Hungarian hussars. Their combat experience was extensive, and they had even bested the Hungarian hussars, let alone the ragtag Dutch army.

As Bragge gave the command, the Dutch artillery, already prepared, began to operate the cannons. Orange flames flashed at the cannon mouths, and shell after shell whistled toward the French cavalry formations.

"Whooosh! Whooosh! Whooosh!" The shrill whistles filled the sky, and many French soldiers, charging at high speed, looked up at the sky.

Meanwhile, small black dots were rapidly approaching and growing larger in their eyes.